Chapter 9: Bed Warming
Mario and Rus entered E. Gadd's lab, brandishing the final sun piece in E. Gadd's face.
"By George, you got it!" exclaimed E. Gadd. "That makes eight. You guys found them all!"
"Yup," said Mario.
"Now what do we's do next?" asked Rus.
"Of course, the final step in saving the planet," said E. Gadd. "You guys must now go to the highest, furthest north point on the planet, which, based on my calculations, is Cool Cool Mountain."
"So what do we do once there?" asked Mario.
"You guys must climb to the top and show the sun pieces to the sky," explained E. Gadd. "The sun pieces should be attracted to the sun and should shoot through the clouds and become reacquainted with the sun, and then everything can get back to normal."
"Sounds fairly simple," said Rus.
"Indeed," replied E. Gadd. "But let's not have haste make waste. Go now! The planet is in your hands now!"
"We won't let you down," said Mario.
"And the planet," added Rus. "We's won't let the planet down either."
"Before you go, Mario," said E. Gadd, "let me upgrade your snowboard."
Mario handed E. Gadd his snowboard. E. Gadd went off into the back of his lab, and returned in a few minutes. "Your board is now updated to its maximum extent," said E. Gadd, as he handed the board back to Mario.
"Thanks!" cheered Mario.
Mario and Rus left E. Gadd's lab. "Well, this be it," said Rus.
"This is what it all comes down to," said Mario.
"So are you'se ready to go to Cool Cool Mountain?" asked Rus.
"Of course," replied Mario. "Let's go!"
Rus followed Mario to a pipe, which Mario and Rus then heaed through. They emerged at the base of Cool Cool Mountain. It was unusually cold and had more ice and snow than normal.
"It's freezing here!" shouted Mario.
"I know," said Rus. "Almost too cold. But we's can't let a little cold stop us."
"Well, time to begin our climb," said Mario.
Mario and Rus began ascending the mountain. A frozen wind blew into Mario and Rus's face. Mario slowly moved up on his board and Rus took slow, choppy steps to avoid slipping on the ice and falling all the way back down to the base. He used the spikes on the barrel of his hammer like clamp-ons.
"This is going to be tough," said Mario.
"Tougher than I thought," agreed Rus.
The two continued up. All of a sudden, when they were rounding a corner, tons of snow came crashing down from above and buried Mario and Rus under snow that fell from higher up the mountain. "Cold!" shouted Rus while spitting out snow from his mouth.
"Oh man, that kills," said Mario, coughing from the cold.
"Stop-" started a voice.
"Right-" continued a second.
"There!" finished a third.
Mario and Rus looked to see three figures.
"Oh great, it's you dopes again," said Mario.
"We-" started the first voice.
"Aren't-" continued the second voice.
"Dope!" finished the third voice.
"Who be they?" asked Rus.
"Ying, Yang, and Yo," said Mario. "They're the idiot brothers who finish each other's sentences."
"Shut-" started Ying.
"Your-" continued Yang.
"Mouth!" finished Yo.
"You ready to beat some fools?" asked Mario.
"You'se bet," said Rus.
Ying HP: 25/25
Yang HP: 25/25
Yo HP: 25/25
Vs.
Mario HP: 80/80
Rus HP: 40/40
"Trust me," said Mario, "these guys are weak."
"They seem to be all talk and no walk," commented Rus.
"That's exactly right," said Mario. Mario ran up to Ying and rammed into him with the snowboard, sending his sliding back into Yang, and sending Yang back into Yo.
"The domino effect is working good here," said Rus. Rus swung his hammer at Ying, sending him back into Yang, who got pushed into Yo.
"Prepare-" started Ying.
"For-" continued Yang.
"Pain!" finished Yo. Ying, Yang, and Yo all jumped into a jet, and all whooshed by Mario and Rus one at a time, sending Mario and Rus into the air each time before being struck again.
Ying HP: 16/25
Yang HP: 18/25
Yo HP: 20/25
Vs.
Mario HP: 71/80
Rus HP: 31/40
"That didn't hurt too bad," said Mario.
"There's a lot more things I've felt that's hurt worse," said Rus.
Mario again pushed Ying back into Yang, and Yang went back into Yo. Rus used the same technique as Mario and pushed them with his hammer like dominos.
"Sky-" started Ying.
"Dive-" continued Yang.
"Time!" finished Yo. Ying, Yang, and Yo all pulled out jetpacks and flew straight up into the sky. They all grabbed hold of each other and formed a ball, which then crashed down on Mario and Rus.
Ying HP: 7/25
Yang HP: 11/25
Yo HP: 15/25
Vs.
Mario HP: 63/80
Rus HP: 23/40
"Let's finish off the first one," said Mario.
"All right," said Rus.
Mario jumped on Ying with his snowboard. "Finish him, Rus!" shouted Mario.
"With pleasure," said Rus. Rus cracked his hammer over Ying.
"Avenge me, my brothers!" cried Ying as he fell into the snow.
"You-" started Yang.
"Killed-" continued Yo.
"Ying," finished Yang and Yo simultaneously. Yang and Yo grabbed an end of a rope and started flying in circles around Mario and Rus until they were tied tight in a rope.
"Gah!" shouted Mario.
"Whirling-" started Yang.
"Snowstorm!" finished Yo. Yang and Yo started spinning in a small circle and built up a spinning cyclone of snow, and then blasted the snowy tornado at Mario and Rus. It collided viciously with them, burying them in the snow.
"Energy-" started Yang.
"Ball!" finished Yo. Yang and Yo built up a huge energy ball that they dropped on Mario and Rus, clearing the snow off them and freeing them from the rope, but not without hurting them greatly.
Ying HP: 0/25
Yang HP: 11/25
Yo HP: 15/25
Vs.
Mario HP: 46/80
Rus HP: 6/40
"I be getting tired and weak," said Rus.
"Don't give up," said Mario. "We’ve almost got them. Let's push these morons around." Mario rammed into Yang, who got pushed into Yo.
"You'se be right," said Rus. "Let's finish them up." Rus wound up and whacked his hammer at Yang, sending him back into Yo.
"Sky-" started Yang.
"Down!" finished Yo.
The two began building dark matter. However, Rus slammed his hammer on the ground, sending them up into the sky and breaking their attack.
"You dirty fool," said Yang, as he collapsed into the snow.
Ying HP: 0/25
Yang HP: 0/25
Yo HP: 3/25
Vs.
Mario HP: 46/80
Rus HP: 6/40
"Now it's time to get rid of this last pest," said Mario. Mario jumped on Yo with his snowboard.
"No!" cried Yo as he took a tumble into the snow.
Ying HP: 0/25
Yang HP: 0/25
Yo HP: 0/25
Vs.
Mario HP: 46/80
Rus HP: 6/40
Ying, Yang, and Yo were lying hurt in the snow. "So long, suckers," taunted Mario.
"Well, let's continue on," said Rus.
"Yeah," said Mario. "I don't think the top is too far away."
Mario and Rus continued their climb up the mountain. The mountain got steeper as they went, and a frozen wind whipped in Mario and Rus's face. The air was frigid, and Mario and Rus could barely feel their fingers. They rounded one last corner, and the summit came into plain view.
"We's be almost there," said Rus.
"Thank goodness," said Mario.
The two reached the summit of the mountain. They saw two figures on the other side of the summit. "I told you they would come to us," said a voice.
"Don't boast," said a second voice.
The two figures moved into the light and were now a couple of feet away from Mario and Rus. "Who be you'se?" asked Rus.
"I am Calm Duck," said the first voice.
"And I am Small Planet," said the second voice.
"We come from the sun," said Calm Duck.
"The sun?" asked Mario, startled.
"Indeed," said Calm Duck. "I am the leader of the sun people. Small Planet here is just a random follower who followed me down here. We came to find the sun pieces, as without them, the sun is getting cold, and our species is suffering."
"We would like the sun pieces back," said Small Planet.
"Hold on a minute," said Mario. Mario and Rus took a few steps back and began whispering to one another. "These guys look pretty ordinary to be from the sun," said Mario.
"I know," said Rus. "They could be working for Bowser."
"So should we give them the sun pieces?" asked Mario.
"I say nay," said Rus. Mario and Rus turned and walk back toward Calm Duck and Small Planet.
"Have you made your decision?" asked Small Planet, with anxiety in his voice.
"We have," said Mario.
"And we's say nay," answered Rus.
"Nay?!" shouted Calm Duck in surprise. "Nay?!"
"That's right," said Mario.
"These guys don't want to make it easy," said Small Planet.
"Then I must use force to take them from you, hoodlums!" shouted Calm Duck, as he charged up fire, then ice, then lightning, all in the same hand.
Calm Duck HP:
100/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 85/85
Rus HP: 40/40
"This guy ain't going to be a pushover," said Rus.
"Indeed," said Mario. "We’d best use the strongest attacks we can. I'll start this one off." Mario slid up to Calm Duck and jumped on him with the snowboard.
"I got's it next," said Rus. Rus ran up and whacked Calm Duck with the hammer.
"Prepare for your doom, fools," said Calm Duck. Clam Duck charged up lightning in his fists and shot lightning in the air, which struck Mario and Rus.
Calm Duck HP:
90/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 78/85
Rus HP: 33/40
"How about a combo attack?" asked Mario.
"Sounds good," said Rus. Mario got on his snowboard and Rus hits it with his hammer, sending him flying into Calm Duck.
"I'll take this one solo," said Rus. Rus wound up and chucked his hammer at Calm Duck.
"For ordinary civilians, you guys aren't too weak," said Calm Duck. "But you guys are still no match for me and my powers." Calm Duck charged up a ball of heat and fire, and shot it at Mario.
"Ouch!" shouted Mario.
Clam Duck HP:
79/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 70/85
Rus HP: 33/40
"Let's do a combo attack," said Mario.
"All right," said Rus. "In fact, I'se got's an idea for a new one. Rus ran up to Mario and whispered something in his air.
"I like that a lot," said Mario. Mario began shoveling snow into the air with his snowboard, and Rus used his hammer to whack the piles of snow at Calm Duck, nailing him in the face.
"You kids are real pests," said Calm Duck. Calm Duck raised his hands to the sky, and soon, balls of fire began falling on Mario and Rus, who had nowhere to go and got hit by the flames.
Calm Duck HP:
72/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 63/85
Rus HP: 26/40
"This battle is getting tough," said Mario.
"Indeed," agreed Rus. "Calm Duck be one tough foe."
Mario threw his snowboard and it nailed Calm Duck in the face. It then came back like a boomerang and hit him from behind before returning to Mario.
"Nice," said Rus. Rus then ran up to Calm Duck and went to hammer him, but Calm Duck reacted and ripped the hammer away from Rus. "My hammer!" shouted Rus. "You fiend!"
"Looks like I'm the smarter one here," said Calm Duck, smiling at his great move. "Now let's see what this baby can do." Calm Duck slammed Rus's hammer on the ground and sent Mario and Rus in the air. When Mario was close to landing, Calm Duck drilled Mario into the snow by striking him with the hammer on the head. "I like this baby," said Calm Duck. "It's nice to get to cause pain with a weapon for once."
Calm Duck HP:
66/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 54/85
Rus HP: 22/40
"Mario, you'se need to get my hammer back," said Rus. "I don't know how to fight without it."
"I'll get it back right here," said Mario. Mario started dashing on his snowboard toward Calm Duck in an attempt to reclaim Rus's hammer. When Mario went to reach for Rus's hammer, Calm Duck pulled the hammer out of Mario's reach and whacked Mario when he zoomed past.
"That was a fail," said Calm Duck. "It looks like you guys don't know how to fight without your puny weapons. This will be good for me." Calm Duck started spinning and let go of the hammer, which smacked into Rus and bounced off, back to Calm Duck. "It's fun using your weapon against you," said Calm Duck.
Calm Duck HP:
66/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 54/85
Rus HP: 16/40
"I'll get it back this time," said Mario. Mario started speeding toward Calm Duck. Calm Duck pulled the hammer away when Mario got near, but Mario was one step ahead of him this time and moved closer, running over Calm Duck while getting Rus's hammer.
"My hammer!" exclaimed Rus. Mario handed Rus back his hammer.
"Now that this be back in the right hands, it's time to teach you'se never mess with my hammer," said Rus. Rus ran up and delivered a stronger blow than ever to Calm Duck.
"Oh no, you didn't just do that," said Calm Duck. "I don't like people who take from me. You fools have now awakened my most powerful move." Calm Duck held his hands above his head and formed a circle. Energy filled in the hole. Soon a great streak of explosive energy was shot at Mario and Rus.
"Ah!" Mario and Rus screamed simultaneously in terror. The beam struck with great power, leaving them both lying in the snow.
Calm Duck HP:
55/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 39/85
Rus HP: 1/40
"I... need... a... Mu... Mu... Mush... Mush... Mushroom..." said Rus with great weakness in his voice.
"Definitely," said Mario as he popped one in Rus's mouth. Rus then got enough strength to get back on his feet.
"Thanks," said Rus. "That hit the spot."
"No problem," said Mario. "Now I’ve got to teach this guy he can't go whipping everyone out with energy beams." Mario began sliding on his snowboard toward Calm Duck and jumped at the last second, spinning his snowboard in his feet and whacking Calm Duck multiple times in the face with the snowboard.
"You guys are lucky I can't hurt you too badly this turn," said Calm Duck. "But don't worry. In a few turns I'll have enough energy for my ultimate attack. Don't you worry." Calm Duck raised his arms and lightning bolts came shooting down. However, Mario and Rus both rolled out of the way, avoiding the lighting. "Gasp!" cried Calm Duck in surprise. "How did you fools avoid the sacred lighting?"
"We'se just be better then you'se," said Rus.
Calm Duck HP:
49/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 39/85
Rus HP: 20/40
"Let's give him a run now," said Mario. Mario started whispering in Rus's ear.
"That's perfect!" exclaimed Rus. Mario began loading snow on one end of his snowboard. Once that end was covered in snow, Rus slammed his hammer on the opposite end, slinging snow at Calm Duck.
"No!" shouted Calm Duck. "You guys really want to die." Calm Duck lifted his arms, and a great wind blew all the snow behind him at Mario and Rus, burying them. "See?" said Calm Duck. "Anything you can do, I can do better!"
Calm Duck HP:
41/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 29/85
Rus HP: 10/40
"Time to give him a taste of what this is really about," said Mario. Mario started moving toward Calm Duck on his snowboard, and at the last second jumped, spinning the snowboard in his feet and whacking Calm Duck repeatedly in the face with it.
"Now it be hammer time," said Rus. Rus started spinning and lets go of his hammer, sending it flying at Calm Duck. When the hammer bounces off, Rus was still spinning, and managed to catch it and send it back toward Calm Duck again. "Oh yeah!" shouted Rus.
"Stop being pests," demanded Calm Duck. Calm Duck shot an energy ball at Mario.
Calm Duck HP:
25/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 23/85
Rus HP: 10/40
"He's tiring out," said Mario.
"It shouldn't take many more moves to beat him," said Rus.
"Yeah," replied Mario. "Let's give him a good combo move." Rus hit Mario on his board toward Calm Duck. When he reached Calm Duck, Mario kicked off him and headed back the way he came. Rus then kept sending him back toward Calm Duck several times.
"You pests might beat me," said Calm Duck. "This can't be." Calm Duck thrust one palm toward Mario, and a ray of darkness shot out and nailed Mario and Rus.
Calm Duck HP:
13/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 16/85
Rus HP: 5/40
"We'se should be able to finish him up here," said Rus.
"I know," replied Mario. Mario jumped on Calm Duck with his board. "Finish him off," called Mario to Rus.
"No problem," answered Rus. Rus ran up and cracked his hammer down on Calm Duck.
"It can't be!" shouted Calm Duck.
Calm Duck HP:
0/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 16/85
Rus HP: 5/40
Calm Duck was lying hurt in the snow.
"You guys hurt Calm Duck!" shouted Small Planet. "How can it be?" Small Planet ran over to Calm Duck in an attempt to help him regain the strength to get up.
"Well, it's time," said Rus.
"Now I’ve got to hold the sun pieces up to the sky, and that should be all," said Mario.
The moment of truth had come, and Mario brandished the sun pieces toward the sky. The sun pieces flew out of Mario's hands and went into the sky, breaking through the clouds. The clouds soon began to disappear, and the sun was seen in the sky.
"We'se did it!" shouted Rus.
The sun began moving down to Mario and Rus. "What's going on?" said Mario in confusion.
"The sun," said Calm Duck with little energy. "You are back."
"Would have been back sooner if it weren't for you fools!" shouted the sun.
"I'm sorry," said Calm Duck. "You see, these fools... "
"Those two?" questioned the sun with rage in his voice, while glaring at Mario and Rus.
"Yes," said Calm Duck.
"So it was you fools who shot me," said the sun.
"You see, sun-" started Mario.
"Silence!" shouted the sun. "You shall no longer know me as your sun. I am now the Angry Sun! And you guys almost killed me. Well, now it's time for me to repay the favor and kill you two!"
Angry Sun HP:
100/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 90/90
Rus HP: 40/40
"How in the world are we going to beat the sun?" asked Mario.
"We'se can't touch him or else we'll burn," said Rus.
Mario and Rus started thinking.
"Taking it slow?" asked the Angry Sun. "I don't like slowpokes!" The Angry Sun rammed into Mario and Rus.
"He really is angry," said Mario.
"You’d better believe it," said the Angry Sun. "And I'm going to take all my anger out on you two!"
Angry Sun HP:
100/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 84/90
Rus HP: 34/40
"I wonder if this would work," said Mario. Mario slammed his snowboard on the ground, and snow got shot up into the air. It went over the Angry Sun, and when passing, it turned into water and poured down on the Angry Sun.
"Water!" shouted the Angry Sun. "How did you twerps figure out my only weakness?"
"Well it looks like that's the only way we can beat the Angry Sun," said Rus. "So I guess I'll have to make do." Rus swung his hammer like a golf club, and knocked snow up at the Angry Sun, which melted into water and splashes against the Angry Sun.
"This isn't good," said the Angry Sun. "You guys know my weakness. I guess I'll just have to use unbearably strong attacks." The Angry Sun started spinning, and soon a tornado of fire was produced and then spun toward Mario and Rus, trapping the two in the inferno.
Angry Sun HP:
86/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 76/90
Rus HP: 26/40
"Looks like we have to keep at what we just did," said Mario. Mario rode his snowboard and skidded right before reaching the Angry Sun, sending snow flying at him that melted into water and soon drenched him.
"I think we'se might be able to pull this one off," said Rus. Rus slammed his hammer on the ground and sent snow up in the air, which turned into water that rained down on the Angry Sun.
"Just do me a favor and leave now," demanded the Angry Sun. "It will be easier for me, and you guys won’t have to get hurt." The Angry Sun opened its mouth and breathed a beam of fire at Mario and Rus.
Angry Sun HP:
72/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 66/90
Rus HP: 16/40
"All day," said Mario. "All day."
"Let's try to get more out of our moves," said Rus.
"Oh yeah," said Mario. "We can do a combo attack out of this." Mario loaded snow on one end of his board, and Rus hit the other end with his hammer, sending snow at the Angry Sun, which then melted into water and soaked him. Mario then started shoveling piles of snow up and Rus hit those piles in the air toward the Angry Sun, which melted and wet him like rain.
"This is tougher than I thought," said the Angry Sun. "Time to step it up a notch." The Angry Sun started condensing, and soon burst, sending several rays of heat and fire toward Mario and Rus, striking them one after another.
Angry Sun HP:
54/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 51/90
Rus HP: 1/40
"Quick, I'se need a Mushroom," called Rus.
"No problem," said Mario as he tossed his last Mushroom into Rus's mouth.
"Now I got's him," said Rus. Rus swung his hammer like a golf club and sent snow up into Angry Sun's face that turned into water and splashed him.
"This is harder than I thought," said the Angry Sun. The Angry Sun went high in the sky and crashed down on Mario.
Angry Sun HP:
47/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 45/90
Rus HP: 21/40
"Keep at it," said Mario.
"We'se can't quit now," replied Rus.
Mario started spinning on his board and caused a whirlwind of snow to head toward the Angry Sun. When it reached him it melted and produces the rain a hurricane would bring.
"Wow," said Rus. "That was awesome!" Rus slammed his hammer on the ground, and sent melting snow in the air, drenching the Angry Sun.
"I hate tough guys," said the Angry Sun. The Angry Sun breathed fire on Mario and Rus.
Angry Sun HP:
30/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 38/90
Rus HP: 14/40
"Let's end this soon," said Mario.
"Agreed," replied Rus. "I be growing tired." Mario rode up on his snowboard and skided before reaching the Angry Sun, sending snow his way that would soon melt into water and hit him like a tidal wave. Rus then smashed his hammer on the ground and sent up snow that melted into water before soaking the Angry Sun.
"Be gone, fools!" shouted the Angry Sun. The Angry Sun began launching massive waves of heat and fire at Mario and Rus.
Angry Sun HP:
15/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 25/90
Rus HP: 1/40
"We'se need to finish him here," said Rus. "I can't take another hit."
"All right," said Mario. Mario whacked his snowboard on the ground and sent snow up in the air, melting when nearing the Angry Sun and wetting him even more than before. "Finish him now!" shouted Mario.
Rus swung his hammer like a golf club and sent tons of snow at the Angry Sun, which melted and gave him one last soak.
"No!" cried the Angry Sun.
Angry Sun HP:
0/100
Vs.
Mario HP: 25/90
Rus HP: 1/40
"I will remember this!" cried the Angry Sun. The Angry Sun drifted back up into space and took its normal position in the sky, holding its angry face as it looked down on the planet.
"Wait for us," said Calm Duck. Calm Duck and Small Planet lifted into the skies.
Mario watched
as the sun shined brightly. The temperature warmed up enough for the snow
to begin melting. A patch of grass appeared. Mario and Rus stared at the
patch, and shined great smiles.
Epilogue: Sunshine Highway
Mario and Rus came running down to Toad Town, where everything was bright, the snow was gone, and it was warm; everything was perfect. E. Gadd, Peach, and everyone in Toad Town were standing at the front of town right as Mario and Rus returned.
"You guys did it!" exclaimed E. Gadd.
"I'm so proud of you, Mario!" cheered Peach. "Not only did you save me, but you saved the whole planet as well!"
"Thanks," said Mario. "But I couldn't have done it without my friend Rus."
"Bah, it was nothing," said Rus.
"What do you say we go for a swim to celebrate?" said Peach. "The weather is looking warm and sunny!"
"Certainly!" said Mario.
"I haven't swam in ages," said Rus. "This be great!"
***
Bowser was looking out to see all of the planet warm, sunny, and snow free. "Failure," said Bowser.
"Sorry, King Dad," said Ludwig.
"Sorry?!" snapped Bowser. "We almost had it! But no, your dumb invention had to shatter the sun! That is the last time we shoot the sun! Ludwig, go to the dungeon. Now!"
Ludwig ran off as two guards dragged him into the dungeon.
"You win this round, Mario," said Bowser to himself. "But next time I will be back, with a better, stronger, fiercer plan. Just you wait... "
***
And so, all was good. Mario and friends had a bright future ahead of them- well Bowser, not so much. Another plan of his had been stopped once again for all that's just. Mario continued on with his own life, while Rus worked in construction, using his hammer to do work no one else could. Bowser still continued to plot revenge, as Ludwig sat in the dungeon, wondering when Bowser wouldl remember he was there. As for the Angry Sun, he still remains Angry, and is said to attack wanderers in the desert. The future is certainly looking bright for Mario, Rus, and the entire planet.
THE END
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